Building Businesses by Building People: Why Asakheni SA Chose to Partner with AL for Agribusiness

For many entrepreneurs, hiring is both exciting and daunting. Growing a business often means balancing fundraising, sales, operations and strategy, leaving little time to recruit and develop new talent. For Asakheni founder Gigi, partnering with AL for Agribusiness offered more than access to talented young professionals. It became an opportunity to invest in Africa’s future while strengthening her own business.

As an alumnus of the African Leadership Academy, Gigi was already familiar with the calibre of young leaders coming through the network. When Asakheni reached the stage where additional capacity was needed, partnering with AL for Agribusiness felt like a natural next step.

“I’ve always trusted the quality of talent within the ALA community,” she says. “When the opportunity came to work with interns through AL for Agribusiness, it felt like a full circle moment.”

The partnership also aligned closely with Asakheni’s mission. While the company works with entrepreneurs to help them build and grow sustainable businesses, AL for Agribusiness focuses on equipping young professionals with the skills and experience they need to succeed. Together, both organisations are investing in people who will shape Africa’s future economy.

Exceeding Expectations

What surprised Gigi most was not the interns’ qualifications, but the way they approached their work.

“I expected junior talent would need a lot of guidance,” she explains. “Instead, I found people who took ownership, asked thoughtful questions, welcomed feedback and genuinely wanted to solve problems.”

That mindset quickly translated into tangible results.

One intern led customer research that inspired a complete rebrand of Asakheni’s product, from its name and positioning to its visual identity. The company is now taking that refreshed brand to market, leaving a lasting legacy from the internship. Another intern contributed to the development of a proposal for a R10 million funding opportunity, conducting research and helping strengthen the company’s submission.

Rather than supporting from the sidelines, the interns became trusted contributors to important strategic work.

Learning to Trust Young Talent

The experience also challenged Gigi’s assumptions about what young professionals are capable of achieving.

“I’ve learned that potential grows when people are trusted. If you give young professionals meaningful work, clear expectations and regular feedback, they often exceed what you imagined they could do.”

Beyond the direct contributions, the partnership gave Asakheni something every growing business needs: capacity. Instead of spending valuable time managing recruitment, the team could focus on building the business while AL for Agribusiness handled candidate sourcing, screening and administration. That allowed Asakheni to move faster without compromising on the quality of talent joining the team.

Bridging the Experience Gap

For Gigi, programmes like AL for Agribusiness play an important role in addressing one of the biggest challenges facing young professionals across Africa: gaining meaningful work experience.

“There is often a gap between education and employment. Young people needopportunities to apply what they’ve learned, while businesses need talented people who are ready to contribute. Programmes like this help bridge that gap in a way that benefits everyone.”

Advice for Employers

Her advice to employers considering hosting interns is simple: create an environment where they can genuinely grow.

“Treat interns like future professionals. Give them meaningful projects, involve them in real business decisions and make time for regular coaching and feedback. The experience should challenge them, but it should also prepare them for what’s next.”

Partnership with Lasting Impact

Looking back, one of the strongest indicators of the partnership’s success is that its impact continues long after the internships ended. Asakheni hired one of the interns permanently, and the work produced during the programme continues to influence the company’s direction today.

For Gigi, that is what meaningful partnership looks like.

“You think you’re bringing someone in to fill a short-term need, but if you create the right environment, they can leave a lasting mark on your business. That’s the real value of investing in young talent.”